31-point quarter lifts Loras over Simpson

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Simpson receiver Ben Coy put Simpson ahead with a touchdown grab on the first play of the second quarter, but Loras went on to score 38 unanswered points in claiming a 45-21 victory over the Storm Saturday afternoon at the Rock Bowl.

In each team's opening week of Iowa Conference play, it was the Duhawks (1-2, 1-0 IIAC) who took advantage of a pair of Simpson (1-2, 0-1 IIAC) turnovers in the second quarter on their way to putting up 31 points in the frame.

Senior quarterback Tyson Unkrich led Simpson in rushing for the second time this season, accumulating 58 yards on the ground to along with 116 passing yards off 11 completions in 29 attempts. Unkrich threw his first two interceptions of the season, one of which to Nick Loyd, who returned it 46 yards for a touchdown in Simpson's tumultuous second quarter.

Coy led the Simpson receiving corps with five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, followed by Alex McCarty's four receptions for 41 yards.

After a Gavin Kaiser 1-yard touchdown run put the Duhawks ahead 10-7 with 6 minutes 40 seconds remaining in the second period, Loras put up three scores in the final 3 minutes 36 seconds in opening up a 31-7 halftime lead.

Johnny Jackson and Beau Evans rushed for a combined 174 yards as the Duhawks outrushed Simpson, 179-129.

Vaughn Gesing went 13-of-24 for two touchdowns through the air. Like Unkrich, Gesing tossed a pair of interceptions, with senior defensive end Ben Reutzel and sophomore linebacker Braden Everding stepping in front of Gesing deliveries.

Running back Matt Claassen rushed nine times for 34 hard-earned yards, and backup quarterback Chris Garza chipped in 23 yards and a touchdown for the Storm.

Taylor Rogers caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Unkrich on the first play of the fourth quarter, marking Simpson's first score since Coy put the first points of the game on the board two quarters earlier.

Simpson committed six penalties on the day for a season-high 185-yards.

Simpson has a chance to even its IIAC record next week when it hosts Buena Vista at Buxton Stadium in a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. The Beavers had the week off after a 16-14 victory against Peru State last week.